May 29th, 2008 Brian Herzog
Since I mentioned recently that it’s staff review time in my library, I thought it’d also be appropriate (although I use that term loosely) to post this 1943 Guide to Hiring Women. Originally published in “Transportation Magazine,” I found it over on the studio twentysix2 blog, and I agree with Tom’s commentary.
As a male in a traditionally female-dominated field, of course I found this interesting. I work for and with women, and have women who report to me, and I’m happy to report that this is not at all applicable to 2008. All of my colleagues, professional and paraprofessional, have their jobs because they are good at their jobs - not just because they fit the uniforms we had on hand.
Times change. That’s a good thing.
Tags: 1943, employment, female, guide, guidelines, hiring, job, jobs, libraries, Library, public, woman, women See Also
Posted under Library, Random | 4 Comments »
May 17th, 2008 Brian Herzog
I was traveling most of last week, so this week’s reference question is actually something I was asked outside the library (and hear often, as I’m sure most librarians do):
Aren’t you going to be out of a job when computers replace books?
There’s lots of answers to this, but I was happy to illustrate my point with a quote a book.
In Douglas Adams’ Mostly Harmless, two characters are comparing astrology to the science of astronomy. One of them makes the case that its rules and methods is what gives astrology value, because they serve to bring out the information someone is seeking.
“It’s like throwing a handful of fine graphite dust on a piece of paper to see where the hidden indentations are. It lets you see the words that were written on the piece of paper above it that’s now been taken away and hidden. The graphite’s not important. It’s just the means of revealing their indentations.”
I immensely enjoy books, and don’t think they are going anywhere any time soon, but this question implied that libraries are just book warehouses. In fact, libraries aren’t about books at all - we are about information, and access to that information.
Printed and bound books are just one form of “graphite dust” that can be used to reveal the important part - the information they contain. E-books, newspapers, websites, DVDs, journals, mp3s and paintings are also types of delivery media for information.
As long as there information, there will be a need to organize it, convey it, give it context, and help others use it. Talk about job security.
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Posted under Library, Reference Question | 1 Comment »
February 7th, 2008 Brian Herzog
I keep an eye on library job openings in Maine, and now I see the the Cabela’s store in Scarborough is looking for someone to work in the Gun Library.
A few of the job duties overlap with my current position:
- Ensure proper display of merchandise on the sales floor.
- Assists customers in finding and selecting products that best meet their needs based on extensive study and field experience.
- Attends and/or schedules management and area meetings to ensure all departments objectives are met.
- Prepares store for daily opening and closing.
And a few do not:
- Determining the market value of a wide range of firearms
- Buying and selling antique and collectible firearms
- Big and small game hunting
- Upland and waterfowl hunting
I wonder if having a Swiss Army knife since college could get me the job. Probably not, but maybe for “Big and small game hunting” they’d count wrangling little kids and teenagers in the library during after-school hours. But I guess that’s more like herding than hunting. I just need to keep looking.
Anyone interested can apply online.
via MELIBS-L
ad, gun, guns, job, librarian, library, opening, retail
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Posted under Library, Random | 3 Comments »
November 15th, 2007 Brian Herzog
My consortium has a very important opening right now, and I’m hoping that by getting the word out as much as possible, a great candidate will be found.
The job title is “Assistant Director for User Services,” and there is a full description at the MBLC’s job bank.
I see this position as so important because this is the person that coordinates services and training between the 35 member libraries of the consortium, as well as the person who facilitates the flow of information between the have-libraries and the have-not-libraries.
With the right person in this position, all of the libraries can work together more closely to serve our collective patron base. A group this large and diverse has huge potential to work together and offer our patrons a tremendous amount of materials and services, as well as work together to help each other move forward and adapt as the tools of our profession and the needs of our patrons evolve.
Plus, you’d get to talk to me sometimes. Luckily, the pay is pretty good, and the benefits are almost embarrassingly good, so that more than makes up for all of the requests and work I’ll be sending your way.
Please apply. Thanks.
job, job posting, job postings, jobs, libraries, library, mvlc, public libraries, public library, user services
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